Check out these 9 made-in-UK brands that are keeping menswear old school in the best way.
Before the Industrial Revolution, virtually all clothing was handmade from natural fabrics like cotton and wool.
Nowadays, most clothing is manufactured entirely by machines using environmentally damaging synthetics like polyester and nylon.
That’s fast fashion in a nutshell. It’s a process that often reduces quality and longevity because, after all, new garments have to be cranked out each season to keep up with trends.
However, there are plenty of brands that still embrace a handcrafted approach and take inspiration from heritage clothing.
While you can find these companies all over the world, some of the best come from the UK. (That’s right, there’s more to the UK than tea and Peaky Blinders)!
The country is home to many clothing brands that produce their garments regionally, often supporting individual makers and artisans.
Additionally, workers’ rights are protected by legislation, which is one reason so many UK brands opt to manufacture everything locally.
I’ve rounded up 9 of these companies to introduce you to the wonderful world of made-in-UK clothing.
Some of these companies are long-running, family-operated businesses, while others consist of just one person. But all of them share a common ethos: a focus on hard-wearing, high-quality clothing.
9 of the Best Made in UK Clothing Brands
Here they are in alphabetical order:
Carrier Company
Founded in 1995 in rural North Norfolk, family-run Carrier Company makes hard-wearing clothes that recall generations of gardeners and fishers.
Its catalog is full of workwear modeled after vintage English garments and made to withstand inclement conditions. The work jackets and smocks use a heavy cotton drill for durability, while the knitwear is 100% wool for optimal warmth.
Even though the clothes are utilitarian, they’re also handsome thanks to the company’s heritage-minded design philosophy. These are clothes that are equally suitable for everyday wear as they are for long sessions of manual labor.
Each item is made by hand either in Carrier’s Norfolk HQ or elsewhere in the UK by local craftspeople, and all of the materials are sourced in the UK as well.
Ella Griffee Studio
Ella Griffee runs a studio in Falmouth, Cornwall, where she makes a curated collection of clothing by hand, rotating through different materials throughout the year.
Her operation is so small-scale that she only offers two men’s shirts: the rugby-style Vinney and the structured Shelsley. However, it’s very much a case of quality over quantity, as both styles are versatile and can be worn year-round.
If you’re after something different, you can also put in a custom order to commission a garment. Bespoke or not, each item is cut and sewn by Ella herself.
A nice touch is that her shirts all come with buttons made from recycled Cornish fishing nets or drinking plastics, helping to keep these synthetics out of the ocean.
Flax London
Linen is a quintessential fabric for spring and summer outfits, but it doesn’t get much consideration outside of those seasons. Enter Flax London, a linen-focused brand that’s set out to show just how diverse this underrated fabric really is.
While most brands stick with lightweight linen, Flax specializes in heavier linens that are more suitable for wearing across seasons.
The company’s shirts, jackets, and bottoms can be worn solo during the warmer seasons, and they provide enough warmth to serve as layering pieces for cooler temps.
All of Flax’s clothes are made in London using materials sourced from Ireland and Belgium. Linen is highly sustainable by nature, but Flax takes it up a notch by making their production completely plastic free.
KerrieALDO
Established in 2014 by designer Kerrie Alexander, KerrieALDO specializes in contemporary outerwear that’s completely handcrafted.
The company’s lineup includes plenty of heavy-duty raincoats, smocks, parkas, overshirts, and more. The majority of the pieces are made from robust, GOTS-certified organic waxed cotton.
You can select from a variety of ready-to-wear designs or have a completely bespoke garment designed. The pieces are made either by Kerrie herself in her Scottish studio or by UK-based seamstresses.
NEMCEE
Manchester-based NEMCEE designs clothing that is, in the brand’s own words, “functional, comfy and aesthetically simple.”
These made-to-order pieces evoke the workwear of yesteryear while keeping in mind how people wear clothes today. The result is a collection of tough yet surprisingly smart-looking items that are durable and versatile.
All of its products are designed and manufactured in the UK, and materials are sourced locally when possible. The brand also uses lots of deadstock materials, which are arguably even more sustainable than using newly-created sustainable fabrics.
Pajotten
Tucked away in the small town of Tenterden, slow fashion brand Pajotten crafts distinctively British workwear.
Pajotten offers both a constant collection (available all year long) and seasonal collections that rotate. Overall, expect to find items like chore jackets, shirts, and trousers.
The company uses sustainable materials like OEKO-TEX-certified cotton and GOTS-certified yarn that are sourced from local UK suppliers.
On top of that, Pajotten’s attention to detail is incredibly thorough, to the point where the makers take care to maintain a higher stitch per inch (SPI) to increase each garment’s strength.
Peregrine
Comfortably the oldest company on this list, Peregrine has been making clothes in England since 1796. What began as a small hand frame knitting business is now a UK-wide label that’s made its mark in the fashion industry.
Peregrine’s catalog is full of smart casual pieces that can be dressed up or down. The company uses sustainable, traceable materials like BCI cotton and non-mulesed wool from British suppliers and farmers.
While Peregrine is certainly up-to-date in many ways, it retains a heritage approach by continuing to make all of its clothes in England, and it’s stayed a family-run business throughout its existence.
S.E.H Kelly
While S.E.H Kelly has only been around since 2009, the company feels like it’s been lifted straight out of the early twentieth century.
The brand’s refined pieces are clearly inspired by classic British menswear, though they also have strong connections to workwear. These understated, unassuming styles are designed to stand the test of time.
Many small clothing brands are transparent, but S.E.H Kelly goes the extra mile by listing all of its makers so you can see exactly where everything comes from.
There are even dedicated pages that dive into each maker’s history and process, and each garment’s page has specific information about how that piece is made (complete with fascinating photo galleries).
Yarmouth Oilskins
Great Yarmouth sits on the coast of the North Sea, so it’s no surprise that the town is home to this maker of rugged, maelstrom-ready gear.
Yarmouth Oilskins has been in business for over 120 years and continues to make exceptionally tough garments by hand in the same Great Yarmouth factory in which it began.
Hardy jackets, smocks, and capes still make up a large part of the company’s lineup and are all excellent foul-weather options that offer something different from a standard coat or parka.
If you’re looking for something more casual, you can shop the relaxed tailoring section for easier-going (but still nautically inspired) clothing.
Conclusion
In a world where clothing production is so largely unethical, it’s refreshing to know that there are small brands working to change that.
Thanks to fairer labor legislations and close ties to its sartorial past, the UK is a hotspot for these sustainable brands.
I’ve personally purchased from some of these brands in the past, and I’ve always been very pleased. The clothes are sturdier and (in my opinion) better designed than most of what I find stateside.
Of course, if you’re already in the UK, it’s a no-brainer to check out these companies. But if you’re not, don’t let that stop you from seeing all they have to offer.
Questions? Comments? Leave them below!
Ben says
sorry – should have really mentioned I am from Pajotten!
Ben Sears says
Thanks so much for including us! As a small brand its brilliant when people promote us so a huge thanks, we really do know the concerns people have with shopping online, (we are looking for an accessible studio space as we speak) although all our pieces are made to order especially for you we happily accept returns and are always keen to send out free swatches and discuss measurements and fit in advance of any purchase.
Darcy says
You forgot Hebtroco. The best.
Nick M says
This is a great type of article! There are about 4-5 on this list that I’m going to look further into.
I would love to see an article on Japanese clothing brands if possible!
Gregory Potts says
Are any of these brands available in stores? I’ve grown a little reluctant to buy clothes online because I don’t feel confident about fit until I get to try an item on.
Paul says
I can personally recommend Peregrine, Yarmouth Oilskins and Carrier Company. I’ve ordered online from each and am fussy about fit so have returned without quibble or issue items to all three. Peregrine and Yarmouth Oilskins have stockists and I believe Carrier Company allow visits by appointment. Excellent quality clothes from all three.
Ian Chandler says
You have excellent taste! Going to the Carrier Company showroom is a dream of mine.